Disclaimer: don own warriors, but if Erin Hunter would ever like to give it away, my number is in the phone book.

A/N: I said twenty reviews, but I'm done waiting. Goldpool29579 and warriorfreak, thanks for the ideas! I combined them to get this chapter! Oh yeah! Rock on!!

Brambleclaw's Best Friend

Chapter Seven: This is where my Heart Belongs

Brambleclaw drowsily opened his eyes. In front of him lay the sleeping form of Birchfall. Tigerstar's son smiled. He prodded the tom beside him and murmured, "Dawn patrol?"

Birchfall blinked and nodded. He stood. "Sure."

They trotted out of camp together. Brambleclaw waved his tail at Hazeleye, who was sitting by the entrance. She dipped her head respectfully.

Once out of camp, Birchfall said, "So, I hear you're pretty upset about this whole 'Berryfrost and Poppyclaw' thing, huh?"

Brambleclaw looked at the ground. "Well…the truth is, I think Berryfrost and her have agreed to be mates. I don't know if it's true, but Poppyclaw seems so sad to be away from me."

Birchfall purred in amusement. "Maybe you should-" A sudden yowling interrupted him. Both toms tried to find the source of the sound-it sounded so close. Brambleclaw turned left and saw Berryfrost running towards them. He bared his teeth and started to hiss, but Birchfall stopped him with a light flick on his ear and a slight warning glare. "Hello, Berryfrost. What is it?" Birchfall asked.

"It's Squirrelflight-something's happening to her! I don't know what!" Berryfrost panted.

Birchfall's eyes showed shock, and his tone was level, but it was obvious he was scared. "I'll get Leafpool. Brambleclaw, go with Berryfrost and find her." Birchfall cast a knowing glance at Brambleclaw. Brambleclaw hesitated, then nodded. Satisfied, Birchfall turned and sprinted back to camp.

"Alright, Berryfrost. Lead the way." Brambleclaw hissed-in a scared way, not an angry way. Berryfrost nodded and spun around.

   

Poppyclaw looked up. Birchfall was trotting towards Leafpool's den with a weird expression on his face. "Birchfall!" she called. He acknowledged her with a flick on his ear before disappearing into Leafpool's den. After a few seconds, Leafpool burst out with Birchfall and Thornclaw behind her. All three had herbs in their mouths. She tilted her head, confused. She stood and followed them out of camp. "What's wrong?" she asked Birchfall.

He somehow managed to speak clearly through the bundle of herbs in his mouth and say, "Berryfrost said something's wrong with Squirrelflight."

Poppyclaw flattened her ears, but continued to follow. As much as she resented Squirrelflight, she would never wish death upon anycat-espesially a ThunderClan cat.

Just this once I'll forget Brambleclaw and help her.

   

Berryfrost stopped with Brambleclaw skidding to a halt behind him. Brambleclaw's former apprentice was looking at the ground in front of them. A ginger bundle lay wailing, her fur blending into the blood-stained grass. Brambleclaw knew what was going on.

Amber eyes met green as Squirrelflight struggled having her kits. The she-cat's eyes were glazed with pain and Brambleclaw's own eyes glazed as he tried to imagine what she was feeling right now.

"Squirrelflight!" Brambleclaw's ears pricked. Leafpool raced past him, her fur brushed his lightly. She crouched by her sister and beckoned to Thornclaw. The light tom sat some herbs by Leafpool. Brambleclaw gave him a stare that said, 'What are you doing here?' But he had no time for such questions.

Leafpool's eyes hardened. "Birchfall!" she snapped. Brambleclaw flinched at her tone. Birchfall padded forward and gave her the herbs he was carrying. Leafpool sorted through them. Finally she pulled out a few of them and sat them near her. She chewed them into a pulp and fed them to her sister.

"What's wrong with her?" Berryfrost asked, tentivey stepping forward to stand by Brambleclaw.

"She's having kits, duh!" Poppyclaw snapped. Brambleclaw snapped his head around to look at the she-cat. Determinedly, she walked forward and began helping Leafpool. Brambleclaw felt Berryfrost tense. He smirked. Looked as if he wasn't the only one wondering how Squirrelflight had gotten pregnant.

"But…who-" Berryfrost began.

"It looks like it's you." Leafpool met Berryfrost's gaze. Berryfrost's mouth fell open. "Well," Leafpool stood and came to stand beside Berryfrost. "You have four gorgeous, healthy kits." She murmured.

Brambleclaw smiled. His amber eyes met Leafpool's green ones. She smiled back. He padded over to Squirrelflight and Berryfrost. Poppyclaw watched with longing, as if she wanted kits of her own. Brambleclaw began to feel very awkward. Now with Berryfrost and Squirrelflight together, no doubt Poppyclaw would want to be his mate. But he couldn't deny it any longer. His heart had always belonged to Poppyclaw. Why had it taken so long for him to figure that out? It was standing right here in front of him.

Poppyclaw must have seen him looking at her, because she turned and met his gaze evenly. He felt his ears grow hot. She smiled and giggled quietly. He sighed.

My heart is so confusing, but now I know where it belongs.

He looked back at Poppyclaw.

With her.

(A/N: it's not over yet! Hang on a little longer! (smirk) I've got a good plan!)

   

"So, what did you name them?"

Squirrelflight sighed in annoyance as her mother and father smirked an 'I told you so' look at her and Berryfrost sitting in the clearing together.

"The ginger she cat with a white underbelly, white paws, white chest, a white tipped tail is Gingerkit, the ginger she cat with ice blue eyes is Desertkit and the pitch black tom with big white paws, tail tip, ears, and crescent shaped moon on his flank with icy blue eyes is Darkkit." She said.

Sandstorm nodded in approval. Firestar smiled. "I told you and Berryfrost would be good mates!" he cried as if an apprentice again. Sandstorm flicked him with her tail, causing him to begin fake crying.

Berryfrost smiled. Such a lively family. Squirrelflight is the perfect mother for three energetic kits.

"I told you so!" Firestar cried again. Sandstorm gave up trying to shut him up and instead began singing with him.

Squirrelflight sighed. Berryfrost purred.

Yes. This is where my heart's belonged all along. And it took so long even though,

Squirrelflight smiled at him. He smiled back.

It's been right here beside me all along.

   

That night, Leafpool announced the same thing again to different cats. "You have two kits, Brambleclaw." She murmured. Brambleclaw licked Poppyclaw's ear.

"Why didn't either of you tell me?" he asked gently.

"We didn't want you to worry." Poppyclaw whispered.

He smiled. Leafpool felt her heart nearly break at the sight of something she'd never experience. Over and over she'd see it, but never once would she experience it.

Suddenly, Firestar appeared in the den entrance. His flame-ginger fur was silver-gold in the moonlight. His eyes shone in approval. Berryfrost, Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight and Poppyclaw had all discovered where their hearts belonged, and they were happy.

His gaze traveled up to his deputy. Brambleclaw turned and met his stare. Firestar smiled. Brambleclaw smiled back. Even though no one else would ever know, Firestar knew that at the same time, all four of them; Poppyclaw, Brambleclaw, Berryfrost and Squirrelflight, all thought;

This is where my heart belongs.

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AWWWW! I TEARED UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAH!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SORRY FOR THE SHORT NOTICE!!!!!!!!!! IT'S TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!! WAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay….i've calmed down. Since this is over, will all of you readers and/or reviewers check out my other stories? Please? You'll most likely like them if you liked this. Bye!

-Shadowedheart (Shootingstar left me….-- which means I'll have to change my penname.) Bye, bye! Hope you liked it! It's not too late to review and tell me what you thought! And, I might make a sequel. Tell me what you think and what you think it should be called. Bye, bye!

-Shadowedheart (yes I'm signing again) BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAH!!!!!!!!!!! (Tearing up over the end)